Next Opponent

The soccer news starts with what we already know. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will have 48 teams. That's approved and set as the Confederations work through what happens with qualifying. What isn't so sure is whether or not the 2022 World Cup goes ahead at 32 or 48 teams.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino highlighted that uncertainty in comments to the Asian Football Confederation. "Will it happen in . . .

At a meeting of the FIFA Council in Rwanda on Friday, world soccer's governing body advised against La Liga playing a game that counts in Miami. The proposed game in January between Girona and Barcelona requires the consent of multiple parties in world soccer's governance including FIFA's.
"Consistent here with the opinion already expressed by football stakeholders committee, the council . . .

The soccer news starts with the latest on the potential for FIFA and UEFA squaring off over the plans for the revamped Club World Cup and global Nations League. FIFA wants both tournaments as a package they'll sell in part to outside promoters for $25b. UEFA would prefer that doesn't happen.
In the NY Times, Tariq Panja has this moving forward with FIFA insisting on their plan even with UEFA's . . .

By J Hutcherson (Jun 5, 2018) US Soccer Players - The biggest question in world soccer right now isn't who will host the 2026 World Cup. It's not if the World Cup will expand to 48 teams a cycle early in Qatar. It's not even what might happen in Russia. It's whether or not FIFA is overreaching.
It's hard to downplay FIFA's recent moves. They've pushed through a World Cup expansion that may start . . .

The soccer news starts with another quirk of the MLS schedule, too many games over a short period of time. MLS is normally defensive of its scheduling, pointing out the unique constraints and issues in programming the 23-team league. When it was a smaller league, shared stadiums were the problem. Now, it's logistics complicated by special issues. That can make the schedule seem almost personal for . . .

The soccer news starts with a problem for how the sport is covered on both sides of the Atlantic. The daily churn of what passes for news can downplay major issues for the sport. Right now, that issue is the countdown not for the decision on who will host the 2026 World Cup or even the start of this summer's World Cup itself. Instead, it's FIFA trying to push through plans to revamp the Club World . . .

We start the soccer news with the US Soccer Federation's new president. Carlos Cordeiro won the election in the third round of voting. Cordeiro was previously the US Soccer vice-president and prior to that an independent member of their board of directors. Cordeiro ran as a candidate promising change, winning the support of the Athletes' Council and US Youth Soccer. Those voting blocks gave him a . . .

By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 13, 2017) US Soccer Players - American soccer suddenly finds itself talking about things that are tough to pin down. Systems, structures, and cultural nuances can be slippery and difficult. Still, there’s no time for it like the end of a three-decade run of consecutive World Cup qualifications.
Naturally, focus will turn towards Major League Soccer. A . . .

Tuesday's soccer news starts with La Liga facing the same existential crisis as the rest of Spain. With Catalonia wanting to be a separate country, that means the potential for a La Liga without Catalonian clubs. The Express's Joe Short has Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu making an obvious point about his club's future. Who knows what happens should Catalonia gain independence?
Does it mean . . .

Monday's soccer news starts with FIFA deciding they don't care quite so much about British teams wearing poppies to honor Remembrance Day. The November holiday coincides with an international window. FIFA's earlier response was to fine England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland for adding a poppy to their match day uniforms.
Though FIFA's International Football Association Board has yet to . . .